Written Answers Monday 18 May 2009

Scottish Executive

Courts

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive after how many failed payments a warning letter is issued for non-payment of a fiscal fine.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive after how many failed payments an enforcement order is issued for non-payment of a fiscal fine.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive after how many failed payments a case of non-payment of a fiscal fine is referred to court.

Kenny MacAskill: The enforcement action taken for fiscal penalties is not stipulated by a fixed number of failed payments.

  The normal process for enforcement of such penalties is as follows:

  Issue of a warning letter when payment falls into arrears;

  Issue of an enforcement order if arrears persist, and

  Deployment of sanctions (which may include a further warning) or referral to court if arrears in payments are not addressed.

  Some accounts will be subject to more than one warning letter depending on circumstances.

Courts

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is in (a) staff time and (b) other costs of issuing a warning letter for the non-payment of a fiscal fine.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is in (a) staff time and (b) other costs of issuing an enforcement order for non-payment of a fiscal fine.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is in (a) staff time and (b) other costs of issuing a referral to court for non-payment of a fiscal fine.

Kenny MacAskill: The information is not held centrally.

  It is not possible to disaggregate activity and cost to the level of detail sought. The processes for trawl of accounts in arrears and the issue of documents are automated.

Courts

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases were dealt with in the Justice of the Peace courts in (a) Cumnock, (b) Girvan, (c) Banff and (d) Elgin in 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: The number of cases dealt with by the courts in 2008 is as follows:

  


Court


Cases



Cumnock
445


Girvan
155


Banff
92


Elgin
368



  The courts at Cumnock and Girvan sit as district courts under the administration of the local authority. In June 2008 the former district courts at Banff and Elgin were established as Justice of the Peace Courts administered by the Scottish Court Service. The figures for Banff and Elgin include the cases dealt with by them as District and Justice of the Peace Courts.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals were treated by NHS Lothian for wounds caused by (a) a knife, (b) a dagger, (c) a sword, (d) other types of bladed article and (e) a firearm in each year since 1999 and, of these, what proportion was represented by (i) men and (ii) women and how many were admitted to hospital as emergency cases, broken down by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: Patients who are injured as a result of contact with sharp objects or the discharge of firearms may receive treatment at GP practices, accident and emergency departments or as admitted patients in acute hospitals.

  Information about patients treated in primary care for these types of injury is not centrally available. Similarly, central information on the reason for attendance at accident and emergency departments is not available at present.

  The following tables show the number of patients discharged from acute hospitals in NHS Lothian as a result of:

  Injury from a sharp object (knife, sword, dagger or other sharp object) due to accidental contact OR contact of other intent (assault, intentional self-harm or undetermined intent) (table 1a).

  Injury from a sharp object due to assault (table 1b) [Note - this is a subset of the statistics shown in table 1a].

  Injury from firearm discharge due to accidental contact OR contact of other intent (table 2a).

  Injury from firearm discharge due to assault (table 2b) [Note - this is a subset of the statistics shown in table 2a].

  In order to protect patient confidentiality, cells with small numbers (one to four cases) have been suppressed. To prevent suppressed cells being disclosed through differencing, some additional cells with greater than four cases have also been suppressed.

  Table 1a: Number of patients admitted to an NHS Lothian hospital due to accidental contact with sword, knife or dagger OR other contact (due to assault, intentional self-harm or undetermined intent) with sharp object broken down by year of discharge, sex, type of admission and hospital:

  

 Year
 Sex
 Type of Admission
 WGH1
 RHSC1
 RIE1
 SJH1
RIE1
(Little France)
NHS Lothian


 1999-2000
 Female
 All admissions
 *
 *
 61
 *
 -
 102


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 56
 *
 -
 95


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 189
 *
 -
 373


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 169
 *
 -
 339


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 8
 250
 211
 -
 475


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 5
 8
 225
 196
 -
 434


 2000-01
 Female
 All admissions
 *
 *
 62
 68
 -
 135


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 61
 66
 -
 132


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 163
 183
 -
 353


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 146
 168
 -
 321


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 6
 225
 251
 -
 488


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 6
 207
 234
 -
 453


 2001-02
 Female
 All admissions
 *
 *
 81
 73
 -
 159


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 76
 69
 -
 150


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 157
 178
 -
 339


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 142
 169
 -
 315


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 238
 251
 -
 498


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 218
 238
 -
 465


 2002-03
 Female
 All admissions
 *
 *
 103
 68
 -
 179


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 100
 60
 -
 167


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 176
 181
 -
 379


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 164
 158
 -
 338


 
 Total
 All admissions
 20
 *
 279
 249
 -
 558


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 16
 7
 264
 218
 -
 505


 2003-04
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 *
 *
 50
 73
 129


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 *
 49
 72
 126


 
 Male
 All admissions
 5
 *
 *
 158
 147
 329


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 *
 138
 128
 284


 
 Total
 All admissions
 5
 *
 20
 208
 220
 458


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 15
 187
 200
 410


 2004-05
 Female
 All admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 87
 159


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 80
 147


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 5
 -
 *
 193
 345


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 5
 -
 *
 159
 298


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 5
 -
 211
 280
 504


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 5
 5
 -
 196
 239
 445


 2005-06
 Female
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 60
 70
 136


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 -
 52
 65
 123


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 155
 198
 368


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 -
 146
 164
 321


 
 Total
 All admissions
 12
 *
 -
 215
 268
 504


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 9
 8
 -
 198
 229
 444


 2006-07
 Female
 All admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 100
 165


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 94
 156


 
 Male
 All admissions
 -
 *
 -
 *
 223
 370


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 -
 *
 188
 321


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 206
 323
 535


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 -
 190
 282
 477


 2007-08
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 *
 -
 *
 113
 195


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 -
 *
 102
 177


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 *
 238
 435


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 -
 *
 211
 393


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 271
 351
 630


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 -
 252
 313
 570



  Notes:

  There were <five patients admitted to:

  Astley Ainslie Hospital in 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-05, 2005-06 and 2007-08.

  City Hospital in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

  Liberton Hospital in 2000-01 and 2004-05.

  Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in 2007-08.

  -Zero value.

  *Figures suppressed due to small numbers.

  1. WGH – Western General Hospital, RHSC – Royal Hospital for Sick Children, RIE – Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, SJH – St. Johns Hospital.

  Table 1b: Number of patients admitted to an NHS Lothian hospital due to assault by sharp object broken down by year of discharge, sex, type of admission and hospital:

  

 Year
 Sex
 Type of Admission
 WGH1
 RHSC1
 RIE1
 SJH1
RIE1
(Little France)
NHS Lothian


 1999-2000
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 *
 *
 -
 9


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 *
 *
 -
 9


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 *
 54
 -
 139


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 *
 49
 -
 123


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 86
 *
 -
 148


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 76
 *
 -
 132


 2000-01
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 *
 *
 *
 -
 16


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 *
 *
 -
 15


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 -
 *
 66
 -
 154


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 *
 58
 -
 136


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 93
 *
 -
 170


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 83
 *
 -
 151


 2001-02
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 10
 12
 -
 22


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 10
 10
 -
 20


 
 Male
 All admissions
 -
 -
 87
 50
 -
 137


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 76
 50
 -
 126



 Total
 All admissions
 -
 -
 97
 62
 -
 159


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 86
 60
 -
 146


 2002-03
 Female
 All admissions
 *
 -
 *
 *
 -
 7


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 *
 *
 -
 7


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 -
 *
 *
 -
 144


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 *
 *
 -
 128


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 -
 74
 64
 -
 151


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 7
 -
 69
 59
 -
 135


 2003-04
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 *
 5
 *
 9


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 *
 5
 *
 8


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 -
 *
 49
 *
 141


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 *
 38
 *
 111


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 -
 9
 54
 83
 150


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 *
 43
 68
 119


 2004-05
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 24


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 21


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *
 133


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *
 103


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 103
 157


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 73
 124


 2005-06
 Female
 All admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *
 9


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *
 7


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *
 148


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *
 121


 
 Total
 All admissions
 9
 -
 -
 53
 95
 157


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 7
 -
 -
 49
 72
 128


 2006-07
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 7


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 151


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 53
 105
 158


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 45
 82
 127


 2007-08
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 10


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 8


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *
 145


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *
 125


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 106
 155


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 88
 133



  There were <five patients admitted to:

  Astley Ainslie Hospital in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2007-08.

  City Hospital in 1999-2000.

  Liberton Hospital in 2000-01 and 2004-05.

  Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in 2007-08.

  -Zero value.

  *Figures suppressed due to small numbers.

  1. WGH – Western General Hospital, RHSC – Royal Hospital for Sick Children, RIE – Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, SJH – St. Johns Hospital

  Table 2a: Number of patients admitted to an NHS Lothian hospital due to firearm discharge (due to accident, assault, intentional self-harm or undetermined intent) broken down by year of discharge, sex, type of admission and hospital:

  

 Year
 Sex
 Type of Admission
 WGH1
 RHSC1
 RIE1
 SJH1
RIE1 
(Little France)
NHS Lothian


 1999-2000
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 *
 -
 *
 -
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 -
 *
 -
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 7
 *
 -
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 7
 *
 -
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 7
 9
 -
 24


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 7
 8
 -
 20


 2000-01
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 -
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 -
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 -
 8
 *
 -
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 6
 *
 -
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 -
 8
 8
 -
 22


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 6
 8
 -
 18


 2001-02
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 *
 *
 -
 -
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 *
 -
 -
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 5
 -
 *
 10
 -
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 *
 10
 -
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 5
 *
 6
 10
 -
 24


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 5
 10
 -
 19


 2002-03
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 *
 -
 -
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 *
 -
 -
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 -
 *
 *
 *
 -
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 *
 *
 -
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 -
 *
 7
 *
 -
 12


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 5
 *
 -
 10


 2003-04
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 5
 -
 11
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 5
 -
 7
 *
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 5
 -
 11
 *
 22


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 5
 -
 7
 *
 17


 2004-05
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 *
 7
 16


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 *
 -
 *
 6
 14


 2005-06
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 *
 5
 9


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 2006-07
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 -
 7
 14
 24


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 *
 -
 -
 *
 11
 17


 2007-08
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 Male
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 *
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 10
 10


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -
 9
 9



  There were <five patients admitted to:

  Astley Ainslie Hospital in 1999-2000 and 2001-02.

  City Hospital in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

  -Zero value.

  *Figures suppressed due to small numbers.

  1. WGH – Western General Hospital, RHSC – Royal Hospital for Sick Children, RIE – Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, SJH – St. Johns Hospital.

  Table 2b: Number of patients admitted to an NHS Lothian hospital due to assault by firearm discharge broken down by year of discharge, sex, type of admission and hospital:

  

 Year
 Sex
 Type of Admission
 RHSC1
 SJH1
RIE1(Little France)
NHSLothian


 2006-07
 Female
 All admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 Male
 All admissions
 *
 *
 *
 7


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 *
 *


 
 Total
 All admissions
 *
 *
 *
 7


 
 
 Emergency admissions
 -
 *
 *
 *



  Notes:

  There were <five patients admitted to NHS Lothian Hospitals in 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2007-08.

  -Zero value.

  *Figures suppressed due to small numbers.

  1. RHSC – Royal Hospital for Sick Children, SJH – St. Johns Hospital, RIE - Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) crimes and (b) violent crimes were committed in the Lothian and Borders Police area in each year since 2004.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on the total number of crimes committed in Scotland is not available as not all crimes are detected or reported to the police. However, the following table gives information on the number of crimes and violent crimes recorded by the police in the Lothian and Borders Police Force area.

  Crimes and Offences Recorded by Lothian and Borders Police, 2003-04 to 2007-08

  

 
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Non-sexual crimes of violence
 2,577
 2,292
 2,054
 2,099
 2,009


 Other crimes and offences1
 97,586
 104,200
 103,514
 105,418
 96,569


 Motor vehicle offences
 87,988
 104,248
 87,513
 78,941
 61,643


 Total Crimes
 188,151
 210,740
 193,081
 186,458
 160,221



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Note: 1. Other crimes and offences includes crimes of indecency, dishonesty, fire-raising and vandalism and miscellaneous offences

  The latest recorded crime statistical bulletin, Recorded Crime in Scotland 2007-08, is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46684).

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in relation to access to toilets and what action it intends to take.

Shona Robison: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is reserved to Westminster and the Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment of its effectiveness in relation to access to toilets.

  The Scottish Government is committed to equality for disabled people and the revised Scottish Building Standards, introduced in May 2007, now require the provision of an accessible toilet within all new non-domestic buildings. The form and provision of facilities within such toilets reflects the good practice recommendation identified in the British standard BS 8300 – "Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people: code of practice".

  We are keen to get an early picture of how the 2007 changes have been implemented and any issues which have arisen. As part of this, we intend to undertake discussion with a range of stakeholders, including disability organisations, later this year.

Domestic Abuse

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recording mechanisms are in place for the police in relation to male victims of domestic violence.

Kenny MacAskill: All police forces in Scotland, regardless of the gender of the victim or accused, record incidents of domestic abuse based on the following agreed definition:

  "Domestic abuse is any form of physical, non-physical, or sexual abuse which takes place within the context of a close relationship, committed either in the home or elsewhere. This relationship will be between partners (married, co-habiting or otherwise) or ex-partners."

  This standard definition was developed in consultation with police forces following recommendations given in the Report of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Hitting Home - A Report on the Police Response to Domestic Violence 1997. This work was progressed through the domestic violence working group of the Scottish Criminal Statistics Committee involving Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) nominated representatives.

  In terms of the recording of crimes arising from a domestic abuse incident, action has already been taken to improve consistency in the way crimes are recorded in Scotland. The Scottish Crime Recording Standard (SCRS) was introduced throughout all Scottish Police Forces on 1 April 2004. The main aim of this was to provide a more victim orientated approach that ensured uniformity in crime recording standards throughout Scotland. The list of crime codes used to record crimes is consistent across all police forces in Scotland, and allows Scotland-level statistics to be created. This ultimately ensures a greater degree of comparability between forces than there was previously.

  The latest statistical publication on domestic abuse, Domestic Abuse Recorded by the Police in Scotland 2007-08, is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47020). This publication shows that there were 6,753 domestic abuse incidents recorded in 2007-08 in which the victim was male.

European Funding

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the funding from the European Social Fund announced in its news release on 18 April 2009 included funds released by currency fluctuations.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out a revaluation of the Scottish European Social Fund programme.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the funding from the European Regional Development Fund announced in its news release on 18 April 2009 included funds released by currency fluctuations.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out a revaluation of the Scottish European Regional Development Fund programme.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the almost £95 million from the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund announced in its news release on 18 April 2009 was from funding released by revaluation.

Jim Mather: Funding from the 2007-13 European Structural Funds programmes has been allocated to Scotland in Euros. The allocation for each round is based on the Sterling value of the programme at the time of the round, subject to the receipt of eligible and high-quality project bids.

  For the 2007-13 programmes in Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, the original allocation was:

  

 LUPS ERDF
€375,957,844


 LUPS ESF
€269,920,942



  Valued at December 2007 the Sterling equivalent was:

  

 LUPS ERDF
£268,715,869


 LUPS ESF
£192,925,993


 Total
£461,641,862



  Valued at April 2009 the Sterling equivalent was:

  

 LUPS ERDF
£337,892,112


 LUPS ESF
£242,591,447


 Total
£580,483,559



  The movement in the exchange rate between December 2007 and April 2009 means that other things being equal, Scotland’s allocation in Sterling has increased.

  However, claims are received throughout the period of the programme and are translated into Euros at the rate ruling in the month they are received. The Scottish Government must manage the risk that the exchange rate will move against the Euro during this period.

  The funds announced in April 2009 for ERDF and ESF projects have been drawn from Scotland’s total Sterling allocation for the 2007-13 programming period.

  We are successfully front-loading the allocation of the available Structural Funds for 2007-13. To date, £165.9 million of ERDF and £112.6 million of ESF has been awarded to projects within the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland programme area.

Housing

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secure tenancies it estimates fall under the (a) modernised and (b) preserved right to buy schemes and what changes have taken place in these numbers since the coming into force of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Alex Neil: The information requested for local authority tenants is not held by the Scottish Government.

  The information requested for tenants of Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) is held by the Scottish Housing Regulator and is presented in the following table.

  Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) – No. Tenancies with Modernised or Preserved Right to Buy Entitlements

  

 Year:
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Preserved
 37,847
 113,205
 96,857
 87,399
 82,719
 76,500


 Modernised
 22,134
 37,509
 51,309
 55,861
 63,839
 71,813



  Source: Scottish Housing Regulator, RSL Annual Performance and Statistical returns 2002-03 -2007-08.

  Notes:

  1. This data has not been verified with individual RSLs although it has been approved by their governing bodies.

  2. No information was submitted by Scottish Borders Housing Association for 2006-07 and 2007-08 therefore no figures for these two years have been included.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have been forced to leave the sector for not providing the minimum service as a result of the implementation of the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23804 on 15 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total income to local authorities from landlord registrations has been in each year since implementation of the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.

Alex Neil: Local authorities receive income from Scottish Government grant and landlord fees for the purposes of implementing the Private Landlord Registration scheme. The following table summarises this income from the financial year 2005-06 to 2007-08.

  Under the concordat arrangements between local authorities and the Scottish Government, baseline grant funding of £1.98 million per annum in 2007-08 for landlord registration has been rolled up in the overall local government settlement for the period 2008-11. From April 2008, we no longer collect information on the amount of fee income that local authorities receive under the scheme.

  

 
 Fee Income
 Grant Income
 Total Income


 2005-06
 0.0 million
 1.25 million
 1.25 million


 2006-07
 3.118 million
 1.975 million
 5.093 million


 2007-08
 1.910 million
 1.975 million
 3.885 million


 Total 
 5.028 million
 5.2 million 
 10.228 million

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have (a) been removed from the private rented sector, (b) reapplied for registration and (c) been reinstated under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.

Alex Neil: Ten landlords have been refused registration under the private landlord registration scheme and one landlord had had their registration revoked. Of these, four landlords have reapplied for registration and two have been approved as at 13 May 2009.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the private rented sector has improved since introduction of the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.

Alex Neil: Private Landlord Registration is a key tool to raise standards of accommodation and management in the private rented sector. It also increases the visibility of the sector and provides local authorities with information about privately rented properties and landlords in their area. Since the introduction of registration there have been over 142,000 applications from private landlords which contain details of over 198,000 let properties. This information provides local authorities with an indication of the number of private landlords and properties operating within their area and helps them to include the sector in planning for housing at a local level.

  Engagement between local authorities and private landlords has also increased, for example, there have been over 120 landlord forums held across different local authorities since the scheme began.

  Registration places a duty on local authorities to provide advice to landlords and tenants on general letting issues. In addition, many local authorities issue regular newsletters which are intended to keep the sector informed about the law and their responsibilities as landlords. Training and guidance is also provided by some local authorities.

  We have committed to an evaluation of the scheme in 2010 which will look at the overall impact that registration has had.

Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last discussed with Glasgow City Council the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.

Alex Neil: Officials of the Scottish Government last discussed the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 with officials from Glasgow City Council and other local authorities at the most recent meeting of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation Networking Group on 12 May 2009.

Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had in relation to implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 regarding the increase in fines.

Alex Neil: Officials of the Scottish Government have had discussions on various aspects of the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 with local authority officials, including within the context of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation Networking Group.

Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to implement Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to the increase in fines by the end of 2009.

Alex Neil: We will draw up a timetable for implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 following consultation with stakeholders regarding the options for implementation and taking into account the drafting of statutory guidance and decisions on transitional arrangements. The increases in maximum fine levels for offences relating to houses in multiple occupation could not be implemented separately from the rest of part 5.

Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the impact of implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 as it relates to an increase in fines for failure to have a house in multiple occupation licence.

Alex Neil: The increase in the maximum fine for operating a licensable house in multiple occupation (HMO) without a licence is intended to address concerns that the current level of fines does not provide an adequate deterrent to landlords operating unlicensed HMOs. There has not been an assessment of the precise effect of this change on the number of unlicensed HMOs being operated.

Ports

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the working of trust ports given that they affect the wellbeing of the communities they serve.

Stewart Stevenson: Trust ports are independent statutory bodies established under their own local legislation and responsible for their own activity and operations. Existing trust port guidelines encourage consultation and engagement with local communities and stakeholders, reflecting the important contribution that trust ports make to local and regional economies. Although the Scottish Government has no plans to review the working of the trust port sector, the guidelines for trust ports are kept under continual review.

Prescriptions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22936 by Shona Robison on 7 May 2009, what part of the £834 million cost of dispensing prescriptions represents administrative costs as opposed to the costs of the drugs.

Shona Robison: The £834 million referred to in S3W-22936 reflects the total cost of the provision of pharmaceutical services from April to December 2008, of which £695 million relates to the cost of drugs.

  The balance of £139 million represents the remuneration paid to dispensers for all pharmaceutical services, including the provision of dispensing services.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the proposed Calliacher wind farm development.

Stewart Stevenson: The last day of sitting of the Calliachar public local inquiry was 4 May 2009. Closing submissions are being submitted in writing, and the last date for this is 27 May 2009. The accompanied site inspection is due to take place on 3 June 2009.

  It is anticipated that the report will be submitted to Scottish ministers, who will make the final decision in this case, in autumn 2009. 80% of appeals for Scottish ministers decision should be determined within two months of ministers receiving the report and 100% within three months.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with South Ayrshire Council regarding the state of local roads.

Stewart Stevenson: I have not received a request from South Ayrshire Council to discuss the state of local roads in their area.

  The Scottish Government provides local authorities with funding for local roads through the core local government finance settlement and each council is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of local roads in its area. It is entirely a matter for the councils to decide what priority is given to local roads and to allocate resources accordingly.

Scottish Government Advertising

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much its communications, marketing and advertising budgets have been in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15204, on 12 April 2005, providing information on advertising spend by the Scottish Office/Scottish Executive from 1991-92 to 2003-04. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  For details of advertising spend by the Scottish Executive/Scottish Government from 2004-05 to 2007-08, I refer the member to the Scottish Government’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Directorates/Services-Groups/Corporate-Services/17963/advertising-marketing/spend.

  The Scottish Government’s advertising spend in 2008-09 is currently being reconciled and will be published on the Scottish Government’s website in July 2009.

Tourism

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the economic value is of golf tourism.

Jim Mather: This information is not currently held centrally. However, VisitScotland are researching the economic impact of golf tourism and their report will be published in June 2009.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliament Estate

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has a sinking fund in place in relation to the Parliament estate.

Tom McCabe: In line with generally accepted accounting practice, the SPCB does not maintain a sinking fund in relation to the Parliament estate. The SPCB’s annual accounts incorporate a non-cash depreciation charge to reflect the write off of asset values over their estimated useful lives and the eventual replacement of specific assets, such as plant and machinery, will be met from future years’ capital expenditure budgets. The on-going maintenance of the Parliament estate is treated as annual revenue expenditure.

Parliament Estate

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has an asset management plan in place in relation to the Parliament estate and, if so, whether the plan has been examined and approved by relevant bodies, such as Audit Scotland.

Tom McCabe: The SPCB has a 25 year maintenance plan for Holyrood, which, along with other aspects of maintenance, was reviewed by Audit Scotland in May 2008. Audit Scotland concluded that the "SPCB’s strong governance arrangements provide a secure framework for the management of planned and reactive maintenance activities".